Marshmallow

If you’re looking for something spooky yet playful to add to your Halloween watchlist this year, Marshmallow (2025) is worth a look. The film follows a socially awkward young man going to a summer camp, hoping this time he’ll finally make some friends. What starts as a familiar “outsider at camp” story quickly shifts into slasher territory, with cabins in the woods, creepy counselors, and the weird sense that something isn’t quite right.

What sets Marshmallow apart is the way it blends the classic summer camp horror formula with surprising sci-fi elements. Just when you think you’re watching a straightforward slasher, the story leans into a twist that reframes everything you’ve seen. Personally, I found the twist a bit predictable, but that didn’t make it any less fun. The execution is stylish, and the movie balances campfire chills with soft science-fiction energy.

It’s not the scariest horror movie on this list, but Marshmallow thrives in its mix of dark humor, inventive kills, and a surprisingly heartfelt look at loneliness. Perfect for a Halloween night when you want something creepy, a little silly, and definitely entertaining.

Bring her back

If Marshmallow offers campfire thrills, then Bring Her Back (2025) takes us in the opposite direction, into something darker, heavier, and far more unsettling. This isn’t your typical Halloween horror film filled with jump scares and supernatural gimmicks. Instead, it’s a haunting meditation on grief, loss, and the kind of unspoken trauma that lingers like a ghost long after tragedy strikes.

At its core, the story is somber and deeply heartbreaking, following a family torn apart by an absence that cannot be explained and a presence that refuses to be ignored. Directors Danny & Michael Philippou avoid the easy route of cheap shocks, choosing instead to build dread through silence, atmosphere, and the emotional unraveling of its characters. The horror here isn’t in the shadows, but in the raw pain of people trying desperately to heal when healing seems impossible.

Bring Her Back is disturbing, but not in the way you might expect; it’s sad, frightening, and quietly devastating, leaving an ache long after the credits roll. For Halloween viewers craving something more profound than popcorn scares, this film delivers a chilling reminder that sometimes the scariest things are the ones we cannot let go of.

Together

Horror has always been a sharp tool for exploring relationships, and Together (2025) is a great example of that. The film gives us both elegance and cruelty. Starring real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, the film follows a pair whose seemingly stable relationship is pushed to the breaking point when an unnatural, unexplainable force begins to invade their lives. What starts as just weird disturbances escalates into something grotesque and profoundly unsettling.

This isn’t just a haunted-house tale or a monster movie; it’s an original horror story with a brilliant execution. Writer-director Michael Shanks uses purposeful body horror to draw out the fragility of love, trust, and intimacy, showing how easily something cherished can twist into something terrifying. The result is a film that feels stylish and horrifying, with its glossy cinematography and unsettling imagery working hand in hand to unsettle viewers.

What makes Together stand out isn’t just its grotesque visuals, but how they serve the story. Every disturbing moment mirrors the couple’s emotional disintegration, making the horror feel not only shocking but also deeply personal. For Halloween, it’s a perfect pick for those who want a stylish, smart, and truly unnerving horror experience, one that will leave you questioning how well you really know the person lying next to you.

Weapons

If you’re looking for a horror film this Halloween that feels fresh, fearless, and impossible to predict, Weapons (2025) is the one. Directed by Zach Cregger, who made a splash in the genre with Barbarian, is back with this follow-up that cements his reputation as one of the most exciting modern horror voices. Where Barbarian played with expectations, Weapons dismantles them entirely, crafting a new-age horror experience that thrives on originality.

What makes Weapons stand out is its refusal to lean on tired tropes. Instead, it masterfully blends sharp humor with genuinely terrifying moments, keeping audiences on edge while also giving them space to laugh nervously at the absurdity of it all. It’s not just scary; it’s clever, inventive, and often surprising in ways that feel rare in the genre today.

The unpredictability of the film is part of its brilliance. Just when you think you know where the story is heading, Cregger changes direction into uncharted territory, ensuring that viewers are never truly comfortable. For me, it’s not just one of the best horror films of the year; it’s one of the best films, period. Weapons is smart, shocking, and unforgettable, making it an essential Halloween watch in 2025.

Sinners

Ryan Coogler takes horror to bold new territory with Sinners (2025), a film that blends history, style, and blood-soaked terror into something truly unforgettable. Set in 1932 Mississippi during the Jim Crow era, the story follows twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, who return home after working for bootleggers. What begins as a tense homecoming quickly spirals into a tale of revenge, redemption, and supernatural reckoning.

What makes Sinners remarkable is its fearless collision of genres. It’s part revenge western, part Blaxploitation homage, and part old-school horror, a mix that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Coogler creates a rich atmosphere where every frame feels drenched in both history and dread, and the film doesn’t shy away from exploring the harsh realities of its time while weaving them into a mythic, blood-soaked narrative.

The horror here isn’t just about vampires or gore; it’s about survival, injustice, and the unshakable bonds of family. Still, don’t worry: when the red flows, it flows heavily. With a top-notch cast delivering powerhouse performances and visuals that are as gorgeous as they are brutal, Sinners is a standout horror experience. This Halloween, it’s not just a movie; it’s a reckoning you won’t forget.